What's the Difference: Shop-vacuum cartridge filters

It may be obvious that the filter is crucial. But based on your work, what type do you need?

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Standard vs. HEPA One glance inside a used shop vacuum emphasizes the important role that a filter plays. But does the standard filter that comes with the vacuum do a good-enough job of capturing potentially harmful dust? The answer depends on what size dust you’re dealing with. Standard filters Standard filters are inexpensive and effective, most of the time. For as little as $10, a new cartridge-type filter for your shop vacuum will trap 99.93% of particles down to 3 microns, which is pretty fine dust considering that an individual human hair has a diameter of about 60 to 90 microns. These filters perform adequately for most construction tasks that don’t create extremely fine particulate. Sawdust produced by miter saws or tablesaws, for example, is typically much larger than the dust created by grinding or sanding, and generally will be caught by a standard filter. For sanding tasks, though, a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter offers the best protection. Standard filters don’t clog as often as HEPA filters do, but that’s because they catch less dust. Also, standard filters are easier to maintain. Unlike HEPA filters, they can be hosed off, allowed to dry, and reinstalled…

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